4 years of joy!!

 we don't do to much to celebrate dog Birthdays at my place.  they do have ribbons on their collars this week and have gotten lots of special treats as well as a few fun Birthday prezzies.  dogs are not really big on Birthdays but they are big of treats and toys.

 they don't seem to mind the ribbons on the collars.

 we have had some extra snow this week which is a gift in it's self.  they just love fresh snow to play in.

 i put a few of the puppy photos in ...they have come a long ways.

 i have been very blessed with a string of great dogs over the years.  none are perfect, of course, but all have brought joy and companionship into my life.  where would i be without the furs to share this life with.

 i would be much less happy and more lonely for sure

 so daily walks, which is really nothing new. dogs are great motivation to get out there and get moving.

 i am awake a bit too early today.  perhaps i'll work on getting a few things actually accomplished. i have a lot of lazy days. the stuff that really needs to get done does get done eventually though.

 mostly, i just enjoy chilling with the furs. life is simple when you let it be.  sometimes our hopes and dreams get in the way of the simple life that was put before us to enjoy.  i see the misery that comes to those who seem to force the life that is supposed to be from the life that is. be happy with the life that is...

 enjoyed some chats with various family these past few days...always fun.

 also enjoyed some time with friends. that is also fun.

 i'm already 3 days into my stretch off, it goes by too quickly. i feel really lucky to work a schedule like this that allows me lots of down time to relax and enjoy the beauty of this earth.  i am also very blessed to live in a place as beautiful as this.

 i have seen moose while driving around most days of late.  as the winter and snow collect the moose chill in the neighborhoods more.  this weekend is moose count weekend.  there were two on Patterson munching away yesterday as i headed out to walk.  i also saw moose on my drive home from work last week a few times.

 we are heading into Fur Rondy and then Iditarod season here.  it seems like very quickly after those events we will see the snow melt and the seasons change again. 

 each day up here seems to change dramatically, no matter what season. the light changes, the scenery changes.  it's amazing and inspiring.  you can walk the same trails and just see such diversity. even in winter there are different snow/ice scenes that you come across. it's pretty nuts really. who knew there were so many ways to have ice.

 the dogs, of course, are scenery neutral. they seem to care less what is out there but find joy in whatever the season brings. 

 look at those paws....he had some growing to do.

 he always could find the comfortable spots to relax.

 she has always been the more spicy of the two.  keeping herself entertained. happiness explodes from Ivy.  she has never been able to contain it.

 the back fence has taken a bit of a hit from the neighbors dogs as you can see.  i fear that soon i will end up with 4 dogs in the house.  picking up dog poop for two is enough.  a work friend says he has a stained fence bit i can maybe just replace this with.  spares...thanks!!  plan to pick that up after the walk today.  perhaps i can prevent the fence from coming down here.

 the dogs have met before and played well together so at least i don't have to worry about my dogs being attacked if the fence is destroyed.

 was thinking of what trump said, which now we all know is true...he could shoot someone in the middle of New York and get away with it...except now i know that he doesn't need to bother with that....he has a whole host of cult like followers who will be happy to carry out the murders for him.  that is where we will soon be.  i suspect some of that has already happened with these mass murders which really are just terrorist attacks.  some of those have been big trump supporters.  more of these incidents will no doubt happen in his name as we move forward.

 he and his cult followers are emboldened by the sham Senate impeachment hearing and win. i don't see a peaceful transition if he loses.  he will make claims that the election wasn't fair somehow and attempt to stay in office.  if he wins who knows what will happen to our nation. 

 every party has it's fringe elements, but what we are seeing right now is what happens when the fringe element gets power.  it's not good for any of us.

 not many have noticed their ribbons or commented on them i guess. still, it makes me smile seeing them with their ribbons and knowing it's their Birthday week.  last night they got a doggy bag of ribs/chicken...i'll give them the rest of those leftovers with breakfast.

 this kid was no doubt supposed to be napping yesterday. i was tossing the toy out back for my dogs, this kid lives in the complex behind me.  i think the kid was watching the dogs.  at some point the kid started banging on the glass with some sort of hard toy.  of course, i was concerned for the kid falling out the window, it breaking.  luckily that did not happen.  i actually opted to stop throwing the tennis ball for a bit in hopes that the kid would lose interest and crawl back in bed.

 i even drove around to the front of the complex on the way to walking the dogs to warn the parents, but once i was in front of the complex i had no clue which place was the kids....i think the picu is pretty full right now....we don't need any kids falling two stories out windows.

 Bolton not happy with his book being suppressed by the white house...big surprise there.  i guess he should have taken the opportunity to testify rather than push for his own interests. 

 the boys scouts are filing bankruptcy, this secondary to claims of sexual abuse in the ranks.  the Mormons, who were huge boy scout supporters, recently left the scout organization.  did they want out before the crap hit the fan on these abuse cases?  time will tell.  it has just been brought to the public attention that the church has been hoarding billions in cash.  these religious organizations can run but they can't hide. the catholics have been running from abuse scandals for years.  it seems all of them hide these sex abuse cases, protect the abusers.  it's so sad.

 i noted to a co-worker that the Catholics had no doubt abused women and girls for generations, it only got attention and action once it was males that were the victims. 

 another son killing parent on the Kenai recently.  people used to say i needed to have kids to take care of me in my elder years....these cases always make me say, yes, these kids certainly took care of their parents.  sadly, this seems to happen all too often. having kids is no guarantee that you will be taken care of.  there is a lot of elder abuse out there.  there are also many who take their elder relatives for all the money they have.  it's pretty pathetic but it happens.

 those owls are still chilling by the airport i think.  always cool.  never tire of the wild life around here.

 just sent text with yesterdays moose sighting.  they are doing a survey this weekend of the moose of Anchorage.

 just some scenes from this weeks walks.  below a guy bikes while pulling a child in a ski sled and two others are skate skiing behind him.

 trump doesn't want to hear truth...if you attempt to speak truth to him...you may displease him and be out of your job/office.  at least, he just fires them and doesn't kill them as some dictators do..we aren't there....yet. more and more he is surrounded by yes men and loyalists.  that is never good for our nation. 

 cat litter day...trash day is tomorrow.  always good to get the poop out to the bin...that is what most of my trash is...dog poop and cat litter.  it's also  recycling week...which means i got paid.  will need to sit down and pay bills....see there are days when i must actually get stuff accomplished!!

 the neighbor dogs are barking a lot this morning. i often run out thinking it's my dogs only to see they are sleeping peacefully in the house.  happy they aren't the culprits.  those barkers are giving dog owners a bad name really.  i suspect my neighbor rarely walks her dog.  often people think they have dog doors and back yards so that is enough for their dogs...it's not.

 this fence is no doubt a sign of dogs who aren't being walked enough.  you gotta wear out dogs and kids for that matter.  if you don't, you pay the price...so does society really, in both cases.

 idle hands as they say...right?

 well exercised dogs make for good dogs.  i try to live with the belief that everyone hates dogs and i am the good will ambassador for dogs....my dogs good behavior brings good will to all dogs...but it doesn't take much to ruin the good will. 

 these mugs are not perfect admittedly but i do try. 

 in between shifts last week at the dog park.  yes i am a stunner these days.  haha!!  i am off to get some stuff accomplished, walk the dogs, pick up a big of fencing and relax!!

grateful for: A.  lazy days and a lazy, happy life  B.  dogs who are amazing companions.  C.  family and friends who accept you for who you are